MAYOR OF SEATTLE ON HIS DECISION TO RECOGNIZE SAME-SEX MARRIAGES CONDUCTED ELSEWHERE: From the Seattle Times; sorry about clunky locution

The day I announced my executive order recognizing same-sex marriages among city of Seattle employees, I stopped by a local Starbucks to pick up a latte. A woman came up to say thank you for recognizing the validity of same-sex marriages of city employees. We talked a bit and when she left, she was crying. They were tears of joy, not sorrow.

Each day, I appreciate more and more that this issue is about fundamental civil rights. It's not just a philosophical debate. It's about recognizing and valuing real people in real relationships; people who are systematically denied a certain dignity. Americans should be beyond the bias mentality of the mid-1900s. I'm proud that in Seattle, our hearts and minds embrace diversity in every form. We're a richer, fuller, freer community because of it.

If we believe in equal protection, we can't tell some people that their relationship is legitimate and others that theirs aren't just because we don't believe in same-sex unions. ...

It is not the role of government to legislate what constitutes a legally married couple in terms of skin color or sexual orientation. It is the role of government and the Constitution to respect and protect the sanctity of legal unions and ensure that the individuals in those unions are afforded equal protection, regardless of skin color or sexual orientation.

more
posted by Eve at 4:31 PM | link

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home